A number of accessible benches have been installed around a popular walking route in Patchway.
Six bright red ‘Balmoral’ style benches have been positioned at various points around the Patchway walking trails which link routes in the area to local amenities including shops and health services.
The benches have been specially designed to be accessible to a wide range of people, including those with dementia, and feature individual arm rests which help people to lift themselves out of the seats. A flat concrete platform has also been added next to each bench to enable wheelchair users to safely position themselves alongside.
Subitha Baghirathan, Development Officer at South Gloucestershire Dementia Action Alliance, said:
“The new red benches in Patchway are almost like a badge that shows the area is committed to being a dementia-friendly community, following the very successful pilot programme over 2013-14, coordinated by Eleanor Fairbrother at Southern Brooks Community Partnerships. There is now a thriving Memory Café in Patchway, 70 local businesses and organisations became members of the local Dementia Action Alliance, and a film was made by pupils at Patchway Community College and members of the Memory Café in 2014.”
“Red is a significant colour – it’s more visible to people with dementia and people with some impairments. These red benches illustrate how simple, thoughtful actions can improve a community, making it friendlier for all.”
One of the benches is located on the corner of Bradley Road and Durban Road, two are on Cranbourne Road opposite Highwood Road, one is on the corner of Rodway Road next to Callicroft Primary School, and two are on the green space next to the play area adjacent to Callicroft Primary School.
The benches have been funded by the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.
Source: Press release from South Gloucestershire Council
I’ll give it a week before one goes missing.
Are they going to install litter bins next to these benches? Currently they have been defaced (paint scratched off) and are surrounded by empty alcoholic drink cans and take away containers.
Think they are to heavy to steal @Cavendish
Which seats are you talking about @ Patchway
They had bins attached. Any missing are being re-fitted. Vandalism, litter dropping, poor social behaviours, where do we begin and end? Litter and bins have been discussed on previous posts, and addressed where possible, reasons given by Cllr Mills. Further discussion available at contact details given, or at Annual Town Meeting tonight, 7.30 Casson Centre, Rodway Rd, near Community Centre. All welcome.
@Dave Tiley – any area will only ever level out at the lowest common denominator.
It’s all very sad.
Maybe time for the local council to star naming and shaming the parents of these smackheads doing the damage…….or does that breach their human rights?